Recipe for Revival

Recipe for Revival

“For the people had all been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.” Nehemiah 8:9 (NLT)

There’s a pattern that we see throughout the Bible – a pattern of something very powerful happening whenever people turn to the Scriptures. In the verse above (which is read on day 30 of our “Engage the Word”), we see that the people of Nehemiah’s day (who had wandered away from the Word) were all moved to the point of tears as they heard God’s Word being declared to them. The result was a widespread return to God.

We see this pattern repeated in 2 Chronicles 34. The temple of God was in ruins, and as they went to repair it, a copy of the long forgotten law was discovered. When King Josiah read it, he tore his clothes, begged God’s mercy, and instituted spiritual reform in the land.

Something similar happened in the book of Acts as the Apostle Peter preached the Word to thousands who gathered in the streets of Jerusalem. It says that these people, many of whom had a hand in Christ’s execution just a few days earlier, were cut to the heart by what they heard. The only response they could summon was, “What do we do now?” What they did was go on to become the first 3,000 converts to Christianity (Acts 2:37-41).

The pattern is undeniable. Something very powerful and something very spiritual happens whenever God’s Word is discovered and declared. Sin is identified, conviction sets in, repentance happens, and revival follows. God uses His Word to revive His people.

What an important truth for our Church. It’s only when the Scriptures are given center stage that the first fires of revival are kindled in the Church collectively and in our hearts personally.

This Sunday begins revival at our church. Revival will not happen until we fall into the rhythm of what God calls us to do in our walk with Him. I love the picture Neil Cole, our speaker at the District Empower the Church Tour, gave this week when he talked about breathing. Exhaling is the confession of sin and inhaling is taking in the Scripture. If you do not exhale, then you cannot inhale and vice versus. We are to put off the old self and to put on the new self according to Ephesians 4:20-24.

So you will determine if you will see the revival fires upon us. If you come seeking the Lord, confessing what is not submitted to the Lordship of Jesus Christ, and soaking in the Word of God like a sponge soaks in water, then you will be open for what God will provide.

Come to the church on Friday night at 7 p.m. for an hour of prayer as we seek God and prepare the soil for His presence.

Have a great day in the Lord and remember to put God’s Word on the top of your to-do list.

Joy in Jesus!

Pastor Mike